Il castello

The built up area is indissolubly tied to the story of Rocca Sanvitale, even though the rural unit has been strongly influenced by important roads such as the Pedemontana which runs along the Baganza river.

The
discovery of some remains dates its origin back to the Neolithic
age. After that a Roman settlement follows, as witnessed by the
presence of a furnace for the production of wine amphoras (anfore vinarie)
which goes back to the II and III century AD and a Byzantine
community (findings on mount Palero, at Segalara and on the hill of
the village of Sala where the Rocca was built).From 1141,
the feud was under the control of different families such as the
Sanvitale. At that time in the village there was a castle (known
as the tower of Saint Lorenzo), which was meant as a defensive post
of the territory in a period of ferocious feudal fights.

After the fall of Giberto from Correggio (1316), it returned to the Rossi, who rearranged it; although it was a modest fort, Pier Maria Rossi wanted it portrayed in the golden room and arranged to resist the troops of the Sforza. After Pier Maria Rossi’s death the possession of the castle passed first to Bertrando, then to Troilo Rossi and to his descendants until 1635. Under the control of the Rossi, the castle, or Castrum, of Segalara acquired a strategic importance in the territory ; in fact along with the hill of Segalara, the castle of Roccalanzona and Felegara in the west and, the castle of Torrechiara in the east, all became part of the defensive axis of the middle Taro Valley.

In the 1635 the Rossi’s financial condition was disastrous. In the 1654 all their property, including the Segalara estate was confiscated by the ducal house, through the Farnese. Later, in 1682, they sold it to the marquise Gian Antonio Canossa from Pontremoli, as a compensation for his office at court.The property of Segalara remained a possession of the Canossa family until 1800 when it was sold to the Franceschini and after that , divided among other owners.

We owe to architect Luciano Summer an interesting information: the castle of Segalara hasn’t disappeared completely but it still survives into three units of the building now belonging to Sommi, Zini and Cavalli families.